Caught in the Crossroad: An Intersectional Examination of African American Women Intimate Partner Violence Survivors’ Help Seeking

Abstract

Objectives: African American women are disproportionately impacted by intimate partner violence (IPV)-related homicide. They reflect the second highest prevalence rates and experience the highest rates of murder resulting from IPV victimization. Although most survivors note that they have experienced rejection and anticipatory stigma as barriers to their help seeking, African American women additionally experience racism and racial discrimination as obstacles that may further preclude their help seeking. This systematic review highlights African American women’s experiences of rejection from providers and the effects that it may have upon their ability to secure urgent aid. Method: A dearth of literature examines the subtle ways that African American women survivors experience rejection resulting from the interlocking nature of race, class, and gender oppression. Fundamental to developing more culturally salient interventions is more fully understanding their help-seeking experiences. A systematic review was conducted to provide a critical examination of the literature to understand the intersections of IPV and help-seeking behavior among African American women. A total of 85 empirical studies were identified and 21 were included in the systematic review. The review illuminates both the formal and semiformal help-seeking pathways. Results: We recommend integrating anti-Blackness racist praxis, incorporating African American women’s ways of knowing and centralizing their needs in an effort to improve the health and well-being of this population. Conclusions: Eliminating barriers to more immediately accessing the domestic violence service provision system is key to enhance social work practice, policy, and research with African American female survivors of IPV.

A Test of General Strain Theory: Explaining Intimate Partner Violence and Alcohol Use Among Black Women

“…Historically rooted oppressive images that depict Black women as inherently strong, aggressive, and sexually promiscuous serve to minimize their experiences and perpetuate damaging beliefs that they are not credible victims or deserving of assistance (Richie, 2012). Such stereotypes contribute to harmful responses from service providers, dissuading Black women from seeking formal support (Waller et al, 2021). Moreover, because race, gender, and class inequalities are highly interrelated, Black women are more likely to live in violent and under-resourced neighborhoods, which may exacerbate the strains they experience and present additional barriers to receiving assistance (Lei et al, 2014;Long & Ullman, 2013).…”

Preventing Intimate Partner Homicide: The Long Road Ahead

“…This is especially true when prior IPV has not been reported to the criminal legal system, as is the case for about 44% of U.S. IPV victims, and is higher among certain vulnerable groups such as Black women, those living in rural areas, and LGBTQ populations (Bent-Goodley, 2012; Langenderfer-Magruder et al, 2016; Reaves, 2017; Rennison et al, 2013; St. Vil et al, 2017; Waller et al, 2021). While research indicates that IPV against the female partner is the most significant risk factor for IPH (Campbell et al, 2003; Harden et al, 2019), current datasets based on case file information do not permit an accurate or nuanced understanding of IPV history, risk factors, or escalation.…”

“…Survivors of color factor in for racism and discriminatory practices as they determine when and how to seek help (St. Vil et al, 2017; Waller et al, 2021). The result is often a delay in help seeking that can be consequential to their survival.…”

“…Help-seeking is a dynamic and strategic process for all survivors and survivors of color have the added dimension of considering how they might be stereotyped because of race and ethnicity, how they might be hurt or harmed when they report due to their racial and ethnic status, and how they might be perceived by their community for reaching out to formal providers (Bent-Goodley, 2012, 2014a; Nnawulezi & Murphy, 2019; St. Vil et al, 2017; Waller et al, 2021). Consequently, culturally appropriate risk assessments need to take into account the ways that racism and discrimination impact service provision and more research that specifically considers the ways that structural oppression may affect individual level risk is needed.…”

“…For many Black women, they do not report IPV to the police because of justified fears that either they or their partner will be mistreated (Bent-Goodley, 2012; St. Vil et al, 2017; Waller et al, 2021) or killed (Tate et al, 2020). IPV survivors and women of color are more likely to report being victimized by police violence themselves, and may not engage with law enforcement due to concerns for their own safety (Fedina et al, 2018).…”